Club collecting wheelchairs, canes

Nov 27, 2012

OTTUMWA — The Physical Therapist Assistant Club at Indian Hills Community College is collecting used wheelchairs, canes, walkers and crutches for distribution to needy disabled persons in Third World countries.

Students will be accepting donations from 3-6 p.m. Thursday at the Rural Health Education Center on the IHCC Ottumwa campus.

Indian Hills is partnering with the Wheels for the World project, a disability program of Joni and Friends Foundation.

Anyone can donate unused manual wheelchairs – electric wheelchairs or scooters can’t be taken — metal crutches, canes or folding walkers. The donations collected at IHCC will be combined with those from other collection sites in Iowa and across the country. The equipment will be refurbished at a correctional institution before being distributed to individuals in need.

Anyone with equipment to donate who can’t make it to the IHCC campus Thursday, can call Caroline Peyrone at 641-683-5271 to arrange another time when the items can be dropped off.